Combined trunk-collar and track



G. H. WHEARY.

COMBINED TRUNK COLLAR AND TRACK.

APPLICATION FILED APR.18, 1918.

1,339,534. Patented May 11, 1920.

Fig. 1, 110 Z0 i i r UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE HENRY WHEARY, 0F RACINE, WISCONSIN.

COMBINED TRUNK-COLLAR AND TRACK.

Application filed April 18,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE HENRY \VHEARY, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Racine, in the county, of Racine and State of Wisconsin, have invented newand useful Improvements in Combined Trunk-Collars and Tracks, of which the folvertically, medially, into two sections which are hinged together and are swung laterally to open position to permit access to the compartments of the sections. In trunks of this type one of the sections is adapted to hold garments and is provided with tracks and garment hangers suspended thereon which may be withdrawn from the sections while suspended on the rails. The wardrobe section is usually open at its upper end and is provided with a top cover which is hinged to the wardrobe section or to the other section. As the open end of the wardrobe section naturally weakens the end construction of the section, the top covers are constructed to overlap the upper edge, or what is known in the nomenclature of the art, as the collar. This collar is usually secured to the inner upper edge portions of the section and projects upwardly from the three sides of the section and is overlapped by the side flanges of the top cover which abut against the upper edges proper of the trunk section when the top cover is in closed position. The side flanges of the top cover are also provided with a depending strip of material which overlaps the outer side edges proper of the said section. Usually this collar has been formed of strips of wood glued and riveted to the upper edge portions of the wardrobe section and the garment hanger tracks have in turn been connected to the collar or to a reinforcing band which was fastened to the collar by rivets or screws. This construction is comparatively very expensive to manufacture and does not possess the strength desired as the light strips of wood are weakened by the considerable number of rivets extending Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 1920.

1918. Serial No. 229,290.

therethrough in fastening the collar to the section and the tracks to the collar. Furthermore, the construction described materially increases the weight of the trunk due to the fact that the tracks are usually formed of heavy metal rods and connecting This constructlon also decreases brackets. the width of the space for the hangers and the garments draped thereon.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to overcome the before mentioned objectionable features and provide a combined trunk collar and track in which the collar and rails are formed in a unitary structure of sheet metal.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined trunk collar and track in which garment hangers of a greater length may be used in a trunk section of a given size than are ordinarily used thereby providing greater width of space for draping garments overthe hangersmounted on the'rails.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined trunk collar and track which serves as a reinforcing means for the open end of the wardrobe section of the trunk. y

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined trunk collar and track having extension track members which are hinged to the outer ends of the fixed track members in a manner to form a rigid connection therebetween.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined trunk collar and track which is of simple construction, is strong and durable, and is well adapted for the purpose described.

With the above and other objects in view.

the invention consists of the improved combined trunk collar and track and its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 1--1 of Fig. 2 of the upper portion of thewardrobe section of awardrobe trunk having the improved combined trunk collar and track;

Fig. 2 is a top view thereof, parts in section, with the top cover removed.

Fig. 3 is a medial vertical transverse sec-' tional View thereof with the extension track shown in its outer position; and

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the outer ends of the extension track.

Referring to the drawing the numeral 8 indicates the wardrobe section of a wardrobe trunk which is arranged to be swung horizontally to open position. The upper end of the wardrobe section is open as indicated by the numeral 9 and is covered by a top cover 10 which is preferably hinged to the upper forward edge of the other section (not shown) and swings over and closes the Wardrobe section when said section is in closed position.

The top cover is provided with depending flanged portions 11, the lower edge portions of which abut against and rest upon the upper edge portions of the wardrobe section. The depending flanges of the top cover are provided with a strip of material 12 along its lower edge portion which overlaps the upper edge portion of the wardrobe section when the said section is in closed position and the cover is swung thereover.

A combined collar and track 13 formed of a strip of metal or of material of greater strength than the material of the trunk walls is connected to the inner edge portion of the upper open end of the wardrobe section. by rivets or screws 14 and projects upwardly therefrom a suflicient distance to form comparatively a wide collar which is overlapped by the depending flanges of the top cover when the cover is in closed position. The combined collar and track 13 is of approximately U-shape in plan view and of angular shape in cross section and comprises side portions 15 and a rear portion 16 which connects the inner ends of the side portions together. The side or track portions 17 of the collar projecting above the upper edges of the wardrobe section are offsetinwardly to provide a clearance between the projecting collar portions and the depending flanges 11. of the top cover to accommodate the hooked ends 18 of the garment hangers 19 slidably mounted on the track portions 16. The upper edge parts of said track portions are curved inwardly and downwardly as indicated by the numeral 20, to form a wider bearing for the garment hangers and also to reinforce the track portions.

In combining the collar and track and having the hooked ends of the hangers extend over the upper edge portions of the collar, considerable space is saved and a longer hangermay be used than is ordinarily used in a trunk of a given width thus providing greater length of space for draping garments over the hangers.

The outer end portions of the track parts beneath the inturned curved portions 20 have outwardly extending hinge members 21 riveted thereto to which are hinged extension track members 22 adapted to swing horizontally outwardly to positions in alinement with the fixed track members or parts. The hinge connections between the fixed and extension track members are formed with right angular shoulders 23 and 23 which limit the outer and inward swing of the extension track members to alined position with relation to the fixed tracks or to folded positions at right angles thereto.

The outer ends of the extension tracks are formed with shoulders 24 to prevent the accidental disengagement of the garment hangers with the extension tracks. One of said outer end portions is also provided with a hook member 25 which enters an elongated opening 26 formed in the outer end portion of the other extension track to lock said extension track ends together when in folded position.

The top cover is shown as provided with a pad 27 into which garments draped on the hangers embed and are retained in position without injury.

If desired the combined collar and track may be mounted in the wardrobe section of the trunk in a position lower than shown to omit its use as a collar and serve as only a track and a reinforcing means for the trunk end without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the combined collar and track is of very simple construction and is well adapted for the purpose desired.

WVhat I claim as my invention is:

1. The combination with the wardrobe section of a trunk having an open top and a cover for the opening, of a combined collar and track therefor, comprising a U-shaped strip of metal fastened to the inner surfaces of the walls of the top open portion of the trunk and projecting outwardly therefrom beyond the open edges of said trunk to form a collar, the upper edge parts of the side portions of said collar, being curved inwardly and downwardly to form track portions for supporting garment hangers slidably thereon, said top cover when in closed position overlapping projecting collar portions, and extension track members connected to the outer ends of the first mentioned track portions and movable to positions in alinement with said track portions.

2. The combination with the wardrobe section of a trunk having an open top and a cover for the opening, of a combined collar and track therefor, comprising a U- shaped strip of metal fastened to the inner surfaces of the walls of an open portion of the trunk and projecting outwardly therefrom beyond the open edges of said trunk to form a collar, the upper edge parts of the side portions of said collar being curved inwardly and downwardly to form track portions for supporting garment hangers slidably thereon, and extension track mem: bers hinged to the outer ends of the first mentioned track portions and movable from a folded position in alinement with each other to positions in alinement with the first mentioned track portions, said top cover when in closed position overlapping projecting collar portions.

3. The combination with the wardrobe section of a trunk, of a combined collar and track therefor, comprising a U-shaped strip of metal fastened to the inner surfaces of the walls of an open portion of the trunk and having inwardly offset and upwardly extending portions forming a collar, the upper edge parts of the opposite sides of said collar being curved inwardly and downwardly to form track portions for sup porting garment hangers slidably thereon, and extension track members hinged to the outer ends of the first mentioned track portions and movable from a folded position in alinement with each other to positions in alinement with the first mentioned track portions.

4. The combination with the wardrobe section of a trunk, of a combined collar and track therefor, comprising a U-shaped strip of metal fastened to the inner surfaces of the walls of an open. portion of the trunk and having inwardly offset and upwardly extending portions forming a collar, the upper edge parts of the opposite sides of said collar being curved inwardly and downwardly to form track portions for supporting garment hangers slidably thereon, extension track members hinged to the outer ends of the first mentioned track portions, and movable from a folded position in alinement with each other to positions in alinement with the first mentioned track portions, and means fastening the free ends of the extension members together while in folded position.

5. A combined collar and track, consisting of a strip of metal bent into U-shape and having an inwardly ofiset and upwardly extending collar portion adapted to be overlapped by a trunk top cover, the opposite upper side edge parts of the said collar portion being curved inwardly and downwardly to form track portions.

6. A combined collar and track, consisting of a strip of metal bent into U-shape and having an inwardly offset and upwardly extending collar portion adapted to be overlapped by a trunk top cover, the opposite upper side edge parts of the said collar portion being curved inwardly and downwardly to form track portions, and extension track members hinged to the outer ends of the track portions and movable from a .folded position in alinement with each other to positions in alinement with the track portions.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GEORGE HENRY WHEARY. 

